Machine for forming and finishing concrete surfaces



J. H. HOHNKE TAL Feb. 26, 1952 MACHINE FOR FORMING AND FINISHING CONCRETE SURE'ACES Filed May 26, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet l HHH HH M A n www. V mL/,w W5 n bnn. wp .MY M .Mf.; I W M C v W :iivd mymmww M- L L Q M2515 1 S S m. r||| llflx .r H mw M HMWMNHWM x m H T J /\N mm. wv W .3| I I l l I I I1||| "..lll ll VIIIIIIIH I Il ml www@ mw ,Nm t) @R a E ATTORNEYS Feb. 26, 1952 J. H. HoHNKl-z l-rrvAL MACHINE FOR FORMING AND FINISHING CONCRETE sURFACEs Filed May 26, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 w M .n mi y NNO 7 1U 5 7 manrg/ l mHM w HA. n@ om dem .Y B

J. H. HoHNKE Erm. 2,587,321

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 MACHINE FOR FORMING AND FINISHING CONCRETE SURFACES Feb. 26, 1952 Filed May 2e, 1947 @HHH QNY m Feb. 26, 1952 J. H. HoHNKE ETAL MACHINE FOR FORMING AND FINISHING CONCRETE SURFACES '5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 26, 1947 Patented Feb. 26, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,587,321 `1\iAciiIi'\iii.lionl FORMINGAND FINISHING- CONCRETE sURFAcEs John H. Holinke and Carl R. Anderson, Detroit, Mich.

Application May 26, i947, 'serial No. 750,576

, 9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a machine' for forming and finishing concrete surfaces and is particularly concerned with a machine for forming, and finishing road. surfaces and curbs.

It is an object of this invention to provide a machine which forms and nishes a surface, such 'as a concrete road or curb, to any predetermined contour and to ve'ry clo'se limits. The invention also contemplates the production of a machine which forms and finishes a curb integral with the road pavement, that is, substantially atth'e same time' the road surface isformed,l and without the use of special forms to obtain the curb profile. a

The invention also contemplates a machine vwhich is adapted to finish a stretch of road pavement or curb as a continuous operation. More specifically, the machine may be operated `so fas to travel at a uniform speed longitudinally `of the paved surface while the surface finishing operations are automatically controlled.

Several embodiments of machines constructed in accordance with our invention are shown in the following drawingsin which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a curb finishing machine embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view ofthe inachine shown in Fig. 1 taken substantially along line 2-2 in Fig. 1. ,y

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic View of the hydraulic system utilized in the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2 'which permits the automatic and continuous operation of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a road finishing machine utilizing the principle of our invention.

Fig. 5 isa vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 5 5 in Figi`4- Y* ,Y

Fig. 6 is a partial elevational View taken along Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a curb finishing inaj chine of our invention which comprises a rectany gular carriage I0 which is adapted to span across Y' a road slab I I and curb I2 and on which the curb finishing mechanism and power unit is s up- Aports I6 on the carriage I 0. Wheels `I3 at the inner end of carriage I0 are arranged to ride on a 'rail I1 which extends longitudinally of the road 'bed along the central portion thereof and Wheels I3 adjacent the curb end of the carriage are arnal-led at' its opposite ends.

ranged to ride on rail I8 which also serves as the rear retaining wall of the curb I2.

The curb forming and finishing mechanism comprises'a finishing roller I9 mounted between the ends of a guided yoke 2l) which is pivoted to the 'end of a double acting ram 2| of a hydraulic cylinder 22. Roller I9 has guide rollers 23 jour'- Guide rollers 23 are arranged to travel on a pair' of parallel tracks 24 which are shaped to theV curb profile and offset from curb l2 a distance equal to the radius of roller I9 so that as roller I9 reciprocates back and forth on tracks 24 it generates thev curb profile, the surface of the roller being tangent to the c'urb surface.

Tracks 2:1v arev traversed at their forward end by a transverse member 25l and at their rear ends by a member 26 to form a cradle 21. The front end of cradley 21 is suspended from carriage Il) by means of vertically adjustable chain links 28 at each side of ther cradle. The cradle 21 is supoprted at its rear end by means of tie rods 29 having one end pivotally attached to the cradle asr atV 30 and the other end adjustably supported by a bracket 3| fixed to car- -riage I0. Cradle 21 is suspended from carriage I0 in a vertically adjustable manner so that roller I9 may be' aligned with the crown of the road at the rear end of its stroke and to the height of the curb desired at the forward end of its stroke. These positions are indicated by broken lines 32 and 33, respectively, in Fig. 2. A second set of tie rods 34 pivoted to the cradle at one end, as 'at 32, and adjustably retained at the other end by brackets 35 on carriage Ill permit transverse adjustment of cradle 21 to obtain the curb' thickness desired. At its forward end cradle 21 is also pivotally attached to the lower end of a vertical piston rod 3S which is raised and lowered within a hydraulic cylinder 31 suspended from atransverse frame member 38 on carriage I0. By means of a fluid system hereinafter described, r'od 33 is actuated to lift the forward end of the 'cradle' 21 when roller I9 reaches the forward limit of its' stroke and lower the cradle so that rller I 9 is tangent to the road surface wliei'ih the roller reaches the rear end of its stroke. The roii'r lifted in this manner so that it Iwill not distort the finished curb surface on its" rturn stroke.

So that the adjustment and lifting of cradle 21 will not produce a binding action on rain 2|, th hydraulic cylinder 22 is pivotally supported at its forward end. between a pair of ears 38 9?! lll@ rear transverse cradle member 2S and is hinged at its rear end as at 39 to a transverse frame member 48 on carriage I9.

In addition to its reciprocating movement we have found it desirable in order to obtain a good finish on the curb to have roller I9 rotate as well. For this purpose there is provided a chain and sprocket drive 4I at one end of roller I9 which is mounted on a rigid member 42 extending transversely of yoke 28 and connected by a universal joint 43 to one end of a splined compensating drive shaft 44. The other end of shaft 44 is coupled, as by universal joint 45, with a stub shaft 4S which is journalled in bearings 41 mounted on the carriage frame Ill. A bevel gear 48 at the end of shaft 46 is driven by a bevel gear 49v xed on an operating shaft 50 which is coupled by a universal joint I with the drive shaft 52 of a transmission 53. The transmission 53 is driven through a clutch 54 by a chain and sprocket drive 55 connected with a motor 56 which is also mounted on carriage I0. Viewed from the left end, roller I9 is driven clockwise in operation so that it tends to produce a cutting action and carry the concrete ahead of the roller to ll voids which might otherwise occur.

Motor 56 also supplies the power for driving the carriage ID along longitudinal tracks I1 and I8. The stub axles I4 on one side of carriage I9 are provided with universal joints 51 at their inner ends which are coupled with the opposite ends of a connecting shaft 58 to establish a driving relationship between one set of wheels I3. A gear reduction mechanism 59 mounted on carriage I8 is driven by shaft 50 and drives a chain and sprocket drive 63 which is connected to one of the axles I4 of the driven pair of wheels I3 to propel the carriage I0 along tracks I1 and I8.

The hydraulic system, shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3, which operates cylinders 31 and 22 comprises a hydraulic pump BI which is driven by motor 56 through the sprocket and chain drive 55. The inlet side of pump 6I is connected by a conduit 62 with an oil reservoir 63 and the outlet side of pump ISI is connected with a twoway valve 64 by means of a conduit 65. Conduit 65 also connects with a pressure relief valve 68 by means of conduit 61 and valve 66 is connected by a return conduit 68 with oil reservoir 63. Valve 54 also has a return conduit 69 extending to oil reservoir 63. The forward end of valve 65 is connected by a conduit 10 with a conduit 1! extending between the lower end of cylinder 31 and the forward end of cylinder 22. The rear end of valve $4 is connected by a conduit 12 with a conduit 13 extending between the upper end of cylinder 31 and the rear end of cylinder 22.

The transverse movement of roller I9 is synchronized with the lifting of cradle 26 by a pivotal handle "I4 which is connected by link 15 with the spool (not shown) of valve 64. Handle 14 is arranged to shift the spool to either end of valve B4 by means of a pair of dogs 1B and 11 which are arranged on a valve actuating rod 18 so as to be longitudinally adjustable. Rod 18 is loosely supported at one end foi sliding movement within a bracket 19 on carrier frame I0 and is pivoted at its other end 'to an upright leg 80 mounted on yoke 28. Dogs 16 and 11 are arranged so that when the roller I9 advances to the position indicated by broken lines 33, dog 11 abuts against and shifts handle 14 to its for-ward position .so as to admit uid through conduits 1IJ and 1I to the lower end of cylinder 31 and to the forward end of cylinder .22. It will be readily underslppg that the fluid flow produced thereby causes ram 2I to be retracted in cylinder 22 and simultaneously raises rod 36 within cylinder 31 to lift the cradle 21. When roller I9 reaches the rearward position indicated by broken lines 32, dog 13 is arranged to shift handle 14 rearwardly or to the right so that fluid will be admitted to the rear end of cylinder 22 and to the upper end of cylinder 31. This uid flow simultaneously lowers cradle 21 and moves ram 2| in an outward direction.

. It will be appreciated that during reciprocation of roller I9, carriage I0 is propelled at a uniform speed along tracks I1 and I8. We have found that a very smooth finish is produced when the longitudinal speed of the carriage is controlled so that for each complete cycle of roll I9, the carriage I0 travels forwardly a distance equal to one half of the length of the roller. In this manner roller I9 laps approximately half of its length per cycle.

'For convenient operation, an operators seat 8| may be mounted on carriage I3 as shown and control rods (not shown) may be extended from the transmission 53, clutch 54, and other control mechanisms towards the operators seat sorthat the operator is enabled to control the entire operation of the machine from the operator's seat.

In operation, the rod slab Il is finished byja transverse finishing machine leaving the curb portion I2 to be formed and finished by the curb iinishing machine described which may be arranged to follow a short distance behind the transverse finisher. Concrete is poured along the inner side of rail I8 and is roughly shaped to a contour slightly larger than the curb profile by a curb prole shield 82 which is mounted on carriage I0 so as to remove the excess concrete as the carriage travels forwardly. At the same time, roller I9 moves outwardly and upwardly on tracks 24 while rotating in a clockwise direction as shown. This produces a cutting action at the surface of the concrete which together with the transverse movement of the roller generates a true curb profile and carries the excess concrete ahead of the roll and over the upper edge of rail I8 when' the roller reaches its outward limit of movement. At this point handle 14 of the two-way valve 64 is shifted rearwardly by dog 11 causing cylinder 31 to raise cradle 21 and simultaneously reversing the stroke of ram 2l. In the same manner when dog 16 strikes handle 14 on the return stroke of the ram, cylinder 31 drops cradle 21 into finishing position and ram 2I reverses and moves roller I9 outwardly along tracks 24. This operation iscontinuous and automatic and insures proper lapping of the curb surface since during each complete cycle of reciprocation, roller I9 advances longitudinally approximately one-half of its axial length and the surface of the curb will thereby receive at least a double finishing effect.

In Figs. 4 to 6 there is shown another embodiment of a surface finishing machine of our invention. The machine illustrated in these 'drawings is particularly adapted for finishing or ironing out surface irregularities of the pavement which remain after the surface has been finished by ordinary means, such as by a finisher employing a transverse screed which reciprocates transversely over the paved surface. The machine comprises a rectangular frame 88 which 'is adapted to span a concrete road slab 89 and onl which is mounted a transverse traveling carriage machine is `also provided with power unit 93 mounted on frame 9U-,

Frame 90 is supported at opposite ends adja.- cent its sides by two pairs of anged wheels 94 which are arranged to be guided on parallel rails 95 and 96. Rails 95 and 96 serve as end forms for the Yconcrete and extend longitudinally along the pavement. At one side of frame 9,0. wheels 94 are connected through chain and sprocket drives 91 with a drive shaft 98 which is driven by power unit 93 through a speed reduc-.- ing mechanism 99 and a chain and sprocket drive |00. The transverse carriage 9| comprises an .operators platform |U| which is supported at its opposite ends by carriage hangers |62 on which a pair of rollers |83 are journalled. Rollers |03 are arranged to ride in a pair of channeled tracks |04 extending along each side of frame V9|). The

carriage 9| is propelled back and forth across frame .99 on tracks |94 by a sprocket |95 which is driven by a fluid motor |06 and which `engages with the links of stationary chains |91 mounted on frame 90 under each of the channel tracks 04.

The finishing roller 92 is journalled between the lower vends of vertical suspension bar |03 which are slidably retained in carriage hangers |02. Bars |08 are provided at their upper ends with guide rollers |09 which ride on crown tracks on frame 90. Tracks H0 are adapted to be adjustable within limits to any contour of road crownv desired. By .suspending nishing roller 92 from carriage 9| in this manner it will be observed that its path of travel follows the contour of crown tracks H9 and the roller therefore produces a crown surface on the pavement having exactly the same contour as the crown tracks ||0. Roller 92 is also rotated by a fluid motor which drives the roller by means of a chain and sprocket drive I2.

Motors |06 and are of ,the standard reversing iiuid type and are provided with .twoway pilot valves which are actuated by control levers ||3 on each motor. The motors are arranged to be automatically reversed as the carriage 92 reaches either end of frame 90 by Y camming members llll at each end of frame 90 which engage levers ||3 and shift them to the reverse position.

The power unit 93 comprises a motor ||5, preferably of the internal combustion type, with a reversing type transmission ||6 for driving the traveling wheels 94 at variable speeds through the reduction gear train S9. Motor H also drives a double hydraulic pump through a chain and sprocket drive H8. Pump is connected by a pair of iiuid hoses ||9 lwith fluid motor |96 for propelling the carriage 9| a-nd by a pair of hoses With fluid motor which rotates iinishing roller 92.

In the operation of the machine illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6, frame 90 is propelled at a uniform speed longitudinally of the pavement on tracks 95 and '96. At the same time finishing roller 92 rotates and is carried by carriage 9| back and forth across frame 9|] from one edge of the pavement to the other. By reason of the oating suspension of the nishing roller 92 on the carriage 9|, the roller traverses the pavement in a contoured path and thereby finishes the pavement surface to a crown prole parallel to the contour of the adjustable crown tracks I0 on frame 90. The relation of the rotation of iinishing roller 92 with respect to its transverse movement is such that the tangential direction of the roller surface at the pavement contact line is the` same as' the .direction of its transf.r verse travel. As previously explained the rota .tion of the finishing roller .92 in this manner produces a cutting action which removes high spots at the pavement .surface and carries the excess concrete ahead of .the roller. When carriag`e9| reaches either .end of `fra-me 90, the direction of travel and the rotation of roller 92 is automatically reversed by camming members I4 on .frame .90 which shift .control levers H3 on uid motors |96 .and to elect a reversal .of the inlet and outlet ports on each motor.

To. .obtain very .Close tolerances on any stretch of .pavement we have .found it. desirable to 00n- -trol .the longitudinal speed .of frame s0 that the nshiug .roller 92 advances distance of approximately one-half o f its length while it travels from one side of the frame to the other. By controlling .the speed 0I travel in this manner anyportion of the pavement surface receives at least .a double `finishing effect. A truer crown line andv smoother .surface may also be obtained by mounting the guide Vrollers l|09 on eccentric lift cams .so that roller 92 may be lifted so as to hurdle the small accumulations of mortar at each end of its stroke and vcarry that surplus back on its return stroke to ll any voids which may occur in the pavement surface.

We claim.: l v

l. A machine for forming .a roll type curb along the edge of a road surface from a plastic material such as vconcrete comprising a carriage movable in a direction longitudinally of the curb being formed, a frame supported on said carria-gev and movable thereon, track members on said frame extending transversely of said direction of movement of said carriage and having a contour corresponding to the contour into which the curb is being formed, said track members having a. pair of vertically spaced horizontal portions and an intermediate portion connecting and substantially inclined to said horizontal portions, a roller supported by said track members, means for reciprocating said roller along said track members and over the surface of said material, and means for rotating the roller about its axis in a direction such that the tangential movement of its surface at the point of contact with said material vis the same as the direction of its bodily movement and means acting between said frame and carriage for raising said frame on said carriage -during a lportion of the stroke of the roller so as to lift the roller out of contact with the curb surface.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1 including means for adjusting said frame on said carriage in a direction vertically and transversely of said direction of movement of said carriage to vary the height and thickness of the curb being formed.

3. A machine for forming a roll type curb along the edge of a road surface from a plastic material such as concrete comprising a roller, a support movable in a direction longitudinally of the curb being formed, means'V on said support for reciprocating the roller over the surface of said material along a path transversely of said direction of movement of said support, means for rotating the roller about its axis in a direction such that the roller opposes said bodily movement, means for axially supporting said rol1er, and spaced parallel tracks on said support for positively guiding said supporting means along a path correspondin".to the contour of the curb being ).oxinerifA saidtrack having a. pair of vertically said spa-ced portions.

4. A machine for forming a roll type curb along the edge of a road surface from a plastic material such as concrete comprising a cylindrical roller, a support movable in a direction longitudinally of the curb being formed, means on said support for reciprocating said roller over the surface of said material in a direction transversely of said direction of movement of said support, means for rotating the roller about its axis so that the roller opposes such reciprocating movement in at least one direction, a pair of spaced parallel tracks on said support extending transversely of said direction of movement of said support, said tracks having a portion thereof inclined substantially to the surface of the road and being shaped to guide said roller in a path corresponding to the contour into which the curb is being formed, and means for lifting the roller away from the curb surface and lowering the roller to the curb surface so that the roller may be raised out of contact with the inclined portion of the curb surface during that portion of its stroke when it is moving downwardly and in the direction of the center of the road.

5. A machine as set forth in claim 4 including means for synchronizing said lifting and lowering means with said reciprocation means so that the roller is raised out of contact with the curb surface near one end of its stroke and is lowered into contact with the curb surface near the other end of its stroke so that the roller acts upon the curb surface only during that portion of its stroke when its rotation tends to oppose its reciprocating movement.

6. A machine for forming a roll type curb along the edge of a road surface from a plastic material such as concrete comprising a carriage, a frame movably supported on said carriage, a pair of rigid track members on said frame extending transversely of the axis of the curb and having a contour corresponding to the contour into which the curb is being formed, said track members each having a pair of vertically spaced horizontal portions and an intermediate portion connecting and substantially inclined to said horizontal portions, a roller supported by said track members, means for, reciprocating said roller along said track members and over the surface of said material, means for rotating the roller about its axis in a direction tending to resist its reciprocal movement,y and means for shifting said frame on said carriage in a vertical and transverse direction relative to the curb so as to vary the height and thickness of the curb being formed.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 6 including means for raising said roller out of contact with the curb surface when the roller is reciprocated in a direction towards the center of the road.

8. A machine for forming a roll type curb along the edge of a road surface from a plastic material such as concrete vcomprising a carriage adapted to span the curb being formed in a transverse direction, a frame pivoted on said carriage on an axis parallel with the axis of the curb, a pair of track members on said frame extending transversely of the axis of the curb and having a contour corresponding to the contour of the curb being formed, said track members having at least a portion thereof inclined substantially to the horizontal, means for reciprocating said roller along said track members and over the surface of said material, means for rotating the roller about its axis in a direction such that the roller tends to resist said reciprocating movement in at least one direction, and means synchronized with said reciprocating means for pivoting said frame upwardly to raise the roller out of contact with the curb surface during that portion of its stroke when the roller is moving downwardly on said inclined portion of said track members.

9. A machine for forming a roll type curb along the edge of a road surface from a plastic material such as concrete comprising a roller, means for reciprocating the roller over the surface of said material along a path transversely of the curb and roller axes, means for rotating the roller about its axis in a direction such that the roller opposes said bodily movement, means for guiding the roller along a path at least a portion of which is inclined substantially to the surface of the road, said path corresponding to the contour into which the curb is being formed, and means for shifting said guiding means in a direction vertically and transversely of the curb so as to vary the height and thickness of the curb being formed.

JOHN H. HOHNKE. CARL R. ANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,392,161 Hilts Sept. 27, 1921 1,533,464 Robb Apr. 14, 1925 1,550,027 Hug Aug. 18, 1925 1,874,957 Gardiner Aug. 30, 1932 2,084,068' Vinton June 15, 1937 2,187,080 Heltzel Jan. 16, 1940 

